Letter-case.



A. P. FRYAR.

LETTER GASE. APPLICATION-FILED JAN.24. 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

" COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH Kim-WASHINGTON, D. c.

A. P. FRYAR. LETTER CASE APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

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ALLEN r. FRYAB, or ASHTON, IDAHO.

LETTER-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20,1913.

Application filed January 24, 1912. Serial No. 673,162.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN P. FRYAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashton, in the county of Fremont, State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

. clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to letter cases of that type particularly adapted to be earned in hand by a person whiletravehng.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an extensible case which can be readily set up for use when the occasion demands, and which when collapsed Wlll occupy butcomparatively little space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case having aplurality of shelves divided into pigeon holes, the partitions being formed of flexible material, whereby the shelves may be collapsed one upon the other and the upper portions of the ends of the case folded inwardly upon the upper shelves and locked to thereby hold the case in its collapsed relation. H r

A further object of the invention is to provide a case of the character described in which a novel means is employed for securing the ends of the flexible partitions to the shelves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a case of the character described which is provided with a novel construction and arrangement of covers. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is composed of a minimum number of parts, is therefore simple in construction, and is cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or, sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case in its closed position, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the case open and in its extended relation, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview through Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken through Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the case when in its closed relation.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures ofthe drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the case is preferably formed of wood although any other suitable material may be employed and consists of a bottom 5 having ends 66 and'a back 7 connected thereto. Attached to the ends 6 by hinges 8 are extensions 99 which are adapted to fold inwardly, and are of a length suflicient to permit of the same to lie in the sameplane when thus folded. Disposed between the ends 6 and i the extensions 9 is a bottom shelf 10, a top shelf 11 and an intermediate shelf 12. The lower shelf 10 is fixedly secured to the ends 6 and the back 7 by any suitable means, and

p is disposed in spaced relation to the bottom 5 and below the upper ends of said ends 6 and back 7 for a distance equal to the combined thicknesses of the remaining two shelves and one of the end extensions 9.

Inasmuch as the construction of each of the shelves is identical, the description of one is deemed to be suflicient. Each shelf consists of spaced longitudinal strips 13 13, between which is disposed a plurality of sections '14, said sections 14 being secured to the strips 18 by glue or other fastening means. These sections are connected to the strips 13 by any suitable means, and the opposed adjacent side edges 15 of the sections are spaced apart sufficiently to permit of the insertion of one end of the flexible partition 16, the said partition being secured between the edges 15 of the sections by glue or other suitable means. These partitions are formed of cloth or the like. It will be observed in this connection that the opposed edges 15 of the sections 14 of each shelf will be disposed in alinement with the side edges 15 of the sections of the other shelves. The flexible.partitions 16, which have their upper ends secured as above noted by the sections 14 of the upper shelf 11, have their central portions disposed between the sections 14 of the shelf 12, and

have their other ends secured between the sections 14 of the lower shelf 10, it being understood that the shelves are spaced suflicient distance from each'other. It will thus be observed that a plurality of pigeon holes are thereby formed between the ends 6 and the extensions 9. Secured to the rear edges of the upper shelves 11 and theintermediate shelf 12 is a flexible backing.

In order to properly support the shelves in their extended relation, there is provided a plurality of fasteners 17 of; any suitable construction, said fasteners being carried by the top shelf 11 and adapted to engage with the upper edges of the extensions 9.

When the case is extended letters or the like may be arranged within the pigeon holes as may be desired, and in order to in-. dicate the uses for the various pigeon holes, I have provided a novel means for labeling the same. This means consists of flexible cords 18 or the like which are disposed longitudinally of the respective shelves. in ad, Vance of the partitions 16, and have their ends secured to said shelves by any suitable means, Labels 19 of any suitable formation are disposed between the cords 18 and the respective shelves, and preferably hang over the front of said shelves, The spaee between the bottom 5 and the lower shelf 10 m y be utili ed fo h i g le or l k articles.

Formed in the bottom 5 and centrally thereof, are spaced transverse openings 20 .-20, which merge with a longitudinal groove 21 formed in the outer face of the bottom 5, Disposed Within the openings 20 are the legs 22 of a U-shaped handle, the bight 23 thereof being disposed within the groove 21 when the case is set up. The ex: tremities 24 of the legs 22 are outwardly bent to form stops. It will be observed in this connection that the legs 22 are of a length considerably greater than the thickness of the bottom 5 so as to permit of the bight portion 23 of the handle to be drawn out from the bottom 5 a distance suflicient to permit the hand of the carrier to grip the sam Secured to the back 7 is a flexible cover 25, and this cover is of a width substantially equal to the length of the case, and of a length to entirely envelop the case when the said case is in its closed position, as clearly shown by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Formed in the cover is an opening 26 which is adapted to permit the handle to be passed therethrough when it is desired to carry the case. Carried by the free end of the cover is a plurality of fastening devices 27 which are adapted to coact with corresponding fasteners 28 carried by the back 7 of the case.

When it is desired to collapse the case the fasteners 17 are released, and as a result, the intermediate shelf 12 will drop upon the bottom shelf 10, the top shelf 11 will drop upon the intermediate shelf 12, the extensions 9 will then fall inwardly upon the top shelf 11 and the flexible partitions 16 inter mediate the respective shelves will be folded as is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawlngs.

What is claimed is A case of theclass described including in combination, a bottom, end walls, a shelf disposed above the bottom and fixedly secured to the end Walls to form a compartment, a plurality of movable shelves disposed above the stationary shelf, flexible partitions connecting the shelves, extensions connected to the end walls to swing in- Wardly, and fastening means connecting the top shelf and the extensions for respectively holding said shelves and extensions in spaced relation.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN P, FRY AR.

WVitnesses:

DEL JE SE H. G. FULLER.

qopies g1 this patent may be obtained for five. cents each, by addressing the Commissjoner ot- Batentl, Washington, D. 0. 

